Tove Lo by Kenny Laubbacher
Our favourite pop track this year, Tove Lo doesn’t disappoint with ‘No One Dies From Love’.
A heartbreak bop you can dance to, the Alaska-directed video follows movie star Tove and a robot named Annie 3000 get it on in a steamy dystopian love story.
Watch below.
Sounds like: Charlie XCX, ASTR, Broods, Hayley Kiyoko, Nina Yasmineh, Tove Styrke
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Phantogram – In A Spiral
Phantogram by Eliot Lee Hazel
Our favourite high energy pop duo, Phantogram is back with their brilliant new single ‘In A Spiral’.
With a rock-inspired edge and nods to rave culture, the track is enticing as it is unnerving.
Sounds like: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metric, Sleigh Bells, Charli XCX, ASTR
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STIIR – Heartstrings
London based alt-pop trio STIIR shares their upbeat new single ‘Heartstrings’.
Produced by the band’s drummer Prem Rupawala, the track – about the dilemas of love – is a delectable dish of psychedelic pop, making for a truly dreamy and warming listen.
Sounds like: Plastic Plastic, temp.
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Blle – Don’t Be Surprised
Nottingham-based artist Blle is set for the bright lights of pop stardom.
Started out by writing songs in her bedroom, she soon saw herself performing in every venue she could. The most recent result of all her hard work and dedication is ‘Don’t Be Surprised’, written about the downfall of a relationship.
Sounds like: Banks
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Urchin – Night Light
Jazz turned indie musician Urchin (aka Leo Appleyard) makes his label debut on BonFire Records with ‘Night Light’.
Expect his four-track EP later this year.
Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Von Sell
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TWINKIDS – I Luv You
Los Angeles queer pop duo TWINKIDS share their second release of 2019 called ‘I Luv You.’
With their bittersweet, nostalgic and cinematic approach to music, the single explores the complicated feelings that follow a breakup in a mid-tempo, yet soaring synth-pop tune.
Sounds like: The 1975, Matt & Kim, Tame Impala, Oli Hannaford, Boxed In
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SHiiVERS – Crook And Flail
SHiiVERS by Karl Andrew
London-based electro-pop duo SHiiVERS releases dark new offering, ‘Crook And Flail’.
Taking into account the crook and flail symbol used across Ancient Egypt, the song considers the unsettling impact of slavery and exploitation in Ancient, and perhaps, more Modern times.
Sounds like: CHVRCHES
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Emily Litta – +1
The resurgance of R&B and soul sounds in pop music is well recieved across the board due to it’s multifaceted appeal, and Emily Litta is the perfect example of that.
Inspired by her love of old-school hip-hop, funk and jazz records, her inspirations perfectly collide on latest single ‘+1’.
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KELAA – Serefe
Growing up in Sweden, surrounded by her Kurdish and very musical family, KELAA naturally gravitated to mixing the bold and sugary sounds of Scandipop with elements of traditional Kurdish folk – breaking new sonic grounds in the best way.
With this being her second single to date, expect this inspired artist to continue pushing boundaries.
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‘Soy Lo Que Soy’ is the type of song that gets stuck in your head from the first listen. The intro is significantly long, but MONOGEM‘s progression makes it worth the while as you’ll be met with a real Spanish melodic feel with heart touching vocals.
The song shows that the Los Angeles based artist isn’t afraid of speaking out of her heart through music and you’ll definitely feel that through her catchy rythme. “Soy Lo Que Soy”, meaning “I am what I am” gives that Jazz / Soul feel mixed with modern electronic music elements, flavored with Jen Hirsh’s own Guadalajaran heritage.
This is a personal and career milestone for Hirsh—it marks the first time she was courageous enough to incorporate her Guadalajaran heritage in her music, all to follow through on a promise she made with her abuela never to lose it.
Soy Lo Que Soy is part of a forthcoming EP called ‘So Many Ways’.
Sounds like: Goldroom, Silk Cinema, ASTR, July Child, Lights, Evvy, Micky Blue
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OH Wonder – Hallelujah
OH Wonder by Olga De La Iglesia
OH Wonder returns with the glorious new single, ‘Hallelujah’! Praise be!
The visuals, shot in one take, feature Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht in a field amongst a selection of multi-coloured church gowns. As colourful and catchy as ever.
Sounds like: IYES, Kid Astray, Banks, Fickle Friends, Monogem, Paperwhite, PROM, Blood Orange, Years & Years, Bipolar Sunshine, Broods, ASTR
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Islandis – Slow Down
Islandis by Cormac Power
Australian duo Islandis – aka producer/instrumentalist James Chave-Dubois & Ben McInerney – share their bright new single, ‘Slow Down’.
Sharing one song a year, this radiant upbeat jam breathes nostalgia and contagious pop hooks
Sounds like: New Navy, Phoenix, Foster The People, Goldroom, Strange Talk
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Daniella Mason – Woman Lover Powerful
Damn right, Nashville-based Daniella Mason knows the power she has a woman.
A modern feminist anthem through and through, it spells out the world from many womens’ eyes. Her forthcoming EP, ‘Physical State’ is due out this fall.
Sounds like: Imogen Heap, The Japanese House, Robyn, Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, George Gretton, Luna Pines
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Tony Njoku – CONFIDENT
Nigerian-British avant-pop auteur and artist Tony Njoku shares the brilliant new Max Jedwab-directed video for ‘CONFIDENT’.
The intense single adopts a confessional, diary-like intimacy underpinned by whirring synths, which dissolve into effervescent chaos.
It is taken from his new album, ‘Your Psyche’s Rainbow Panorama’, released on 4 October via Silent Kid Records, in which he has taken inspiration from a work of Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s glass walkway, entitled ‘Your Rainbow Panorama’.
Sounds like: Sacred Animals, Ben Khan, Flying Lotus, Ghostpoet, Gaika, Lightfoot
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Zanski – Younger You Feat. Emilia Ali
Zanski digs deeper with his creative new single, ‘Younger You’.
A laid-back RnB affair, Zanski has teamed up with vocalist Emilia Ali to deliver unparalleled vocal lines, rich harmonies, and sweet grooves that perfectly showcase his ability for some serious tuneage, with as much intrigue and substance as James Blake or Jai Paul.
Sounds like: Ben Khan, James Blake, Honne, Banks, Jai Paul
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Slow Shudder – Just As You Are
Pop music is always in a state of flux, and there are always artists doing interesting things with it if you know where to look. This week it’s Seattle-based producer-singer-songwriter Slow Shudder.
Reminiscent of the likes of Robokid and PC Music artists, ‘Just As You Are’ walks a fine line of forward-thinking contemporary production and early 00’s sugary pop, for a delightfully charming ballad.
Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Robokid
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Broken Back – One By One Feat. Alle Farben
It’s coming to the end of summer, which is why you need to listen to the almost-tropical ‘One By One’ by Broken Back and featuring Alle Farben.
The combination of Broken Back’s upbeat and quirky energies with his whimsical vocal styling, combine effortlessly alongside Alle Farben’s diverse, colorful, and boundless spirit.
It’s out now via Sony Music/Ultra Records.
Sounds like: Klingande, Möwe
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Introducing mysterious Paris/New York-based duo Unlovable.
Their soul-searching new single ‘Wait’ is a dynamic heartbreak anthem with thick washes of wistful vocals and a powerful undercurrent of ambient electronica.
Sounds like: Kllo, Broods, Phantogram, ASTR
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We are quite frankly obsessed with LOVE SICK, especially their latest and greatest release, ‘Predictable’, which is anything but.
LOVE SICK is the dark and mysteriously infectious pop project of Glaswegian Shaun and Julie.
Taken from their four-track ‘No Sleep’ EP, ‘Predictable’ is 1/4 snapshot of where they are today, following endless sleepless nights writing the EP culminating in a sweet exhaustion of creativity.
The ‘No Sleep’ EP is out now via B3SCI Records/Aesop.
Our ones to watch for 2019.
Sounds like: ASTR, Dagny, COSBY
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MONOGEM (aka Jen Hirsh) is back after a brief hiatus with ‘Shade’, an explorative song about standing up and speaking your truths, no matter what shades they may be.
Lead by dramatic pizzicato plucks, and written with pop songwriter and producer Bleu of Coach & Ref, MONOGEM explains of ‘Shade’,
“I wrote “Shade” on a day when I felt particularly bleak and dreary. Dark thoughts ran through my head about anything and everything: my artistry, my life, my body, my family, I was having one of those moments where nothing was right. As an artist, those days are more frequent than I’d like to admit. As a woman, I’ve felt pressure to cover up this little dark corner, put my face on and show up for the party. “Shade” is a personal anthem that reminds me to stop hiding my truths, even if they aren’t pretty.”
Sounds like: Goldroom, Silk Cinema, ASTR, July Child, Lights, Evvy, Micky Blue
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Scottish cosmic pop duo LOVE SICK continue their quest to resolve people from their daily miseries.
In their new single ‘Medusa’, LOVE SICK explores the modern context of the Greek “monster”, within a mystical and dark pop landscape.
Look out for their forthcoming ‘No Sleep’ EP, coming out November 16th via B3SCI Records.
Sounds like: ASTR, Dagny, COSBY
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Vivienne Chi – Blood Brother
Alternative pop artist Vivienne Chi shares the enticing ‘Blood Brother’.
With a broad vocal range and a story to tell, ‘Blood Brother’ is about the correlation between light and love, submerged by driving synth hooks and magical moments throughout.
Sounds like: Jessie Ware, London Grammar, GRADES, RUNAH
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LeyeT – Drip Drop
Meet Los Angeles-based pop artist and songwriter, LeyeT (pronounced ‘light’).
Speaking from a hugely painful personal experience, LeyeT’s single ‘Drip Drop’ channels feelings of heartbreak, as if the waves were pummelling over and over again until eventually stopping.
Sounds like: Halsey, Imogen Heap
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LOVE SICK – Hope
Scottish cosmic pop duo LOVE SICK share ‘Hope’.
It’s a shout out to everyone who struggles with anxieties of daily life, a supportive song that urges you to maintain your passion and drive, something that LOVE SICK are very much doing within the music industry.
Sounds like: ASTR, Dagny, COSBY
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Me Not You – Eventually
Vintage keys and delicate vocals highlight ‘Eventually’ by Me Not You as a short and sweet song that is straight to the point.
Speaking of the track, “…it’s a personal song for me… a sort of hyping up of myself to the idea of squashing the beef with someone. the baggage of relationships can linger, and it does no one any good to keep that shit around.”
Sounds like: Melis
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ISLAND – Ride
DIY London band ISLAND take us on a journey with them.
Their new single ‘Ride’ is taken from the upcoming debut album ‘Feels Like Air’, and is led by a guitar riff full of nostalgia that builds throughout the track.
Sounds like: Foals, Amber Run, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Libertines, Mystery Jets, The Lapelles, Circa Waves
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Disco Shrine – Up in the Air
Let’s throw it back with Los Angeles-based electro-pop artist Disco Shrine (aka Jessica Delijani) and her new single ‘Up in the Air’.
As Disco Shrine’s first release in a year, ‘Up In The Air’ hits the ground running with infectious synths and a catchy chorus.
Sounds like: Monogem, Jessie Ware, FOXES, Le Youth
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Robokid – Worth It
…And finally in this week’s roundup, a truly honest rendition from DJ/producer Robokid.
Robokid makes interesting and progressive indie-pop music with a generous nod to early 2000s sounds.
Listen to ‘Worth It’ below, taken from his debut EP ‘Apart’, out now via Moving Castle.
Sounds like: Hellogoodbye, EXES
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We’ve been long time supporters of NYC-based VÉRITÉ, and have thoroughly enjoyed watching her artist status rise in recent months.
The video for ‘Saint’ epitomises VÉRITÉ – sweet and saintly on first appearances with a “hint of femme fatale serial killer”.
Sounds like: Banks, Evvy, Ellie Goulding, ASTR, MS MR, EDEN
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